The newest Ship-of-the-Line to be produced in the ESC's next-gen Battle-Fleet series. While not as fast or nimble as its sistership class, the Geneva, the Kystil Class is a force to be reckoned with in the hands of a capable captain and crew.

Using the standard Resonance-Induction Drive alignment and array, the Kystil masses more than Geneva, and thus, is slower and less manueverable. But that in no way means that this is a weaker vessel. While the Geneva was designed for speed and assault, the Kystil is more along the lines of a sniper/defender role.

As with the new design ethos being employed in the Research and Development Branch, all SOTL (Ship-of-the-Line) craft are mandated to have a fighter hanger able to carry at least ten craft. The Kystil class is no exception, though it is decided less reliant on such protective measures.

For closer range combat, the Kystil class is equipped with a single barrel Main cannon, as the space required for the dual cannon on the Geneva was lacking. This main cannon is not as efficient or destructive as the system employed on the Geneva, but is still a very dangerous weapon. In addition to the main cannon, there are four Dual Heavy cannon turrets which give adequate field of fire for the Kystil.

However, these weapons would be classified as moderate to the Kystil class' primary weapon system. Mounted on the port and starboard of the bow are enlarge torpedo pods. In addition, the pods mounted towards the aft of the hull are torpedo banks, giving the Kystil a total of 36 torpedo tubes through which to fire torpedoes at enemy targets.

While most often fired in pairs, the torpedo tubes can be fired in volley mode, which launches 36 torpedos simultaneously, either independently targeted, or at specified targets. It takes aproximately 20 seconds for the torpedos to be reloaded, and each launcher has a magizine of 10 tordepos from which to draw from. All said, a full volley mode until ammunition is depleted can last up to 3 minutes and 20 seconds, however this is rare.

These torpedos are long range weapons, designed to coast on inertia, using its propellant sparingly for course corrections. They can be fired in two modes. First, you have a hot launch, where the torpedo is fired using its propellent to provide immense speed, but their range is somewhat limited. Second, you have a cold launch, which uses only the launcher's accelerator to fire the torpedo, similar to a railgun. The torpedo only uses its propellent for course correction, and once it reaches impact range on the designated target.

Cold launches are extremely efficient for sneak attacks, since the launch itself can not be detected, and once the target has detected the torpedos, it is often too late to prevent it.

CULTURAL NOTES:

Captain Luthwick served the Zeshran Techs military as per the life contract he held from birth. During a conflict action over the resources on an outlying world, of interest to both ESC and Zeshran, his ship was captured. He later escaped and returned to Zeshran, only to gather the crew that had been loyal to him, and defected to ESC. Once the Anari Tragedy occured, Luthwick was elevated to Captain in the ESC Security Forces and led a detachment to liberate his homeworld of Tarynkos, which was later annexed into ESC as part of the damages settlement regarding the Anari Tragedy.

BONUS MATERIAL:

I had dismantled the Anari's Strike in order to build the Ballista starfighter, but I rebuilt it, by memory, in LDD. Here's some bonus pics of the weapons firing, as you don't see very many with weapons fire.